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Lionel Messi Height, Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

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Wife: Antonella Roccuzzo
Hometown: Rosario, Argentina
Age: 37 Years

Lionel Messi

Bio/Wiki
Full NameLionel Andrés Messi
Nickname(s)Leo, Atomic Flea, La Pulga, La Pulga Atomica, Messidona
ProfessionFootball Player
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)in centimeters- 170 cm
in meters- 1.70 m
in feet inches- 5’ 7”
Eye ColourBlack
Hair ColourBlack
Football
DebutInternational- On 17 August, 2005 for Argentina against Hungary
Club- On 16 October, 2004 for FC Barcelona against Espanyol
Club• Inter Miami (July 2023-present)
• Paris Saint-Germain (2021-2023)
• FC Barcelona (2004-2021)
• Barcelona B (2004-2005)
• Barcelona C (2003-2004)
• Newell's Old Boys (1995-2000)
• Grandoli (1992-1995)
Jersey Number#10 (FC Barcelona)
#10 (Argentina)
PositionForward
Coach/Mentor• Salvador Aparicio (Messi's first coach when he was a child)
Lionel Messi's first coach Salvador Aparicio
• Frank Rijkaard
Lionel Messi with Frank Rijkaard
• Pep Guardiola
Lionel Messi with Pep Guardiola
AgentGuillermo Marin
Records (main ones)• Youngest two-time and three-time FIFA Ballon d'Or winner (23 and 24 years old).
• Most UEFA Best Player in Europe awards (2009, 2011, 2015).
• Most La Liga Best Player awards (2009-2013, 2015).
• Top goalscorer for country and club in a calendar year (91 goals in 2012).
• Top goalscorer in La Liga (312 goals).
• Top goalscorer in the FIFA Club World Cup (shared with Luis Suárez and César Delgado).
• Most hat-tricks scored in a La Liga season (8 in 2011-2012, shared with Cristiano Ronaldo).
• The only player to score consecutively against all opposition teams in La Liga (30 goals in 19 matches in 2012–13).
• The only player to have won the FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball Award more than once.
• In 2013, he became the youngest player to score 200 goals in La Liga.
• The only player to become the top-scorer in 5 UEFA Champions League seasons (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015).
• Record of the most hat-tricks in the UEFA Champions League- five hat-tricks.
• Youngest player to make 100 appearances in the UEFA Champions League: 28 years, 84 days in 2015).
• All-time top-goalscorer of Argentina.
• All-time record scorer for a single club; after he scored his 644th goal to surpass Pele in December 2020. [1]The Hindu
• On 1 June 2022, he equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's haul of international trophies after guiding Argentina to victory in Finalissima clash against Italy. [2]Mirror
Awards, Honours, Achievements • FIFA World Player of the Year: 2009
• FIFA Ballon d'Or: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023
• European Golden Boot: 2010, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2014
• UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award: 2011, 2015
• La Liga Best Player: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15
• FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2009, 2011
• FIFA Club World Cup Final Most Valuable Player (MVP): 2009, 2011
• UEFA Goal of the Season: 2006–07, 2014–15, 2015–16
• Best FIFA Men's Player Award: 2023

Note: He has many other awards, honours, and achievements to his name.
Career Turning PointIn 2007, when he scored a hat-trick against Real Madrid and ended the match with a draw while playing for Barcelona.
Personal Life
Date of Birth24 June 1987 (Wednesday)
Age (as of 2024)37 Years
BirthplaceRosario, Argentina
Zodiac signCancer
Signature Lionel Messi's signature
NationalityArgentine
HometownRosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
SchoolDid Not Attend
College/UniversityDid Not Attend
Educational QualificationNone
ReligionRoman Catholic
EthnicityHispanic
Food HabitNon-Vegetarian
AddressMessi lives in a small area called Bellamar, a prestigious and expensive suburb of Castelldefels, Barcelona
Lionel Messi with his family outside his home
HobbiesPlaying Video Games, Listening to Music
Tattoo(s)Lionel Messi's tattoos
Controversies• In 2013, he was investigated for his suspected tax evasion.
• In 2016, his name appeared in the Panama Papers Data Leak.
Girls, Affairs & More
Marital StatusMarried
Affairs/GirlfriendsAntonella Roccuzzo (Model and Dietician) (2007-2017)
Lionel Messi's girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo
Marriage DateJune 30, 2017
Lionel Messi and Antonella Roccuzzo on their wedding day
Family
Wife/SpouseAntonella Roccuzzo (Model and Dietician)
Lionel Messi with his wife Antonella Roccuzzo
ChildrenDaughter- None
Son(s)- 2
• Thiago Messi Roccuzzo
• Mateo Messi Roccuzzo
• Ciro Messi Roccuzzo
Lionel Messi with his wife Antonella Roccuzzo and his kids Thiogo, Mateo, and Ciro
ParentsFather- Jorge Horácio Messi (Steel Factory Worker)
Mother- Celia María Cuccittini
Lionel Messi with his parents
SiblingsBrother(s)- 2
• Rodrigo Messi (Elder; Messi's business manager)
Lionel Messi with his brothers
• Matías Messi (Elder; Manager of Messi's professional brands)

Sister- Maria Sol Messi (Younger; Social Media Influencer)
Lionel Messi with his sister Maria Sol Messi
Favourites
FootballerPablo Aimar
Food(s)Salad, Escalope Milanese
BookEl Martin Fierro by Jorge Luis Borges
ColourRed
FilmBaby's Day Out (1994)
Style Quotient
Cars Collection• Ferrari 335S Scaglietti Spider
• Ferrari F430 Spider
• Maserati Granturismo
• Audi Q7
• Audi R8
• Audi R8 GT
• Mini Cooper S Cabriolet
• Dodge Charger SRT8
• Range Rover Velar
• Toyota Prius
Money Factor
Salary (approx.)$80 million (as of 2018)
Net Worth (approx.)$835 million (his buyout clause with FC Barcelona that commits him to Camp Nou through the 2020-21 season)

Lionel Messi

Some Lesser Known Facts About Lionel Messi

  • Lionel Messi is one of the most celebrated players in the world of football. He is considered one of the greatest football players of all time. He plays for the Argentina national football team and the Spanish football club “FC Barcelona.”
  • He had developed a passion for sports at an early age and joined a local football club “Grandoli” at the age of 4, where he was coached by his father.

    Lionel Messi in his childhood

    Lionel Messi in his childhood

  • Messi was greatly affected by his grandmother’s death; as she used to accompany him to training and matches during his childhood. To pay her a tribute, Messi celebrates all his goals by looking up and pointing to the sky.

    Lionel Messi looking up to the sky after scoring a goal

    Lionel Messi looking up to the sky after scoring a goal

  • Messi shares his birthplace (Rosario, Argentina) with the Argentine revolutionary, Che Guevara. Messi is also the international ambassador of Rasario.
    Messi Shares His Birthplace With Che Guevara
  • He was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency when he was 10 years old.
    Lionel Messi
  • On 16 November 2003, he made his first-team debut at the age of 16 years, 4 months and 23 days, when he came in the 75th minute during a friendly match against “FC Porto.”
    Lionel Messi First Team Debut
  • After seeing Messi playing at the age of 16, Ronaldinho told his teammates- “Messi would become an even better player than me.”

    Lionel Messi with Ronaldinho

    Lionel Messi with Ronaldinho

  • Messi holds passports of both Spain and Argentina. Even though he has spent a lot of time in Spain, he turned down the offer to play with the Spanish national team.
    Lionel Messi
  • Carles Rexach (Barcelona Coach) was so impressed with Messi that he wanted to sign him up without wasting any time, so, he signed a contract with Messi on a paper napkin; as at that time, Messi just had a napkin which could be used to write something.
    Lionel Messi With Carles Rexach
  • In 2005, he made his international debut against Hungary, but he lasted for only 47 seconds; as he was soon given a “Red Card.”

  • Spanish Media calls him “La Pulga” (The Atomic Flea) as he has a low centre of gravity because of his short stature which gives him greater agility, allowing him to change directions quickly.
  • He is the only player who runs faster with the ball than without it. He is predominantly a left-footed player.
  • Messi is considered to be the best dribbler (a technique to propel the ball towards the opposition goal by traveling with the ball) in the world.
    Image result for lionel messi dribble gif
  • Messi has been compared to Diego Maradona throughout his career.

    Lionel Messi with Diego Maradona

    Lionel Messi with Diego Maradona

  • Messi does not sing the National Anthem of Argentina. Once, in an interview, he explained as to why he doesn’t sing it-

I get annoyed by the people who attack you without thinking, I won’t sing the national anthem on purpose. I don’t need to sing it to feel it. It reaches me, every person feels it in their own way. The Pumas cry, they feel it differently, and that’s ok. I play with the national team always as a priority and I want to win everything I play.”

  • In 2015, Forbes magazine listed him as the world’s second-highest-paid athlete (after Cristiano Ronaldo).
  • In March 2013, a solid gold replica of his left foot weighing 55 pounds (25 kg) worth $5.25 million went on sale in Japan to raise funds for the 2011 tsunami and earthquake victims. The gold foot has very fine detailing, which shows the blood vessels on his foot and also the swirls skin on the bottom of the foot.

    Gold replica of Lionel Messi's foot with his signature at the bottom

    Gold replica of Lionel Messi’s foot with his signature at the bottom

  • Filmmaker Álex de la Iglesia made a documentary “Messi” about his life. The documentary premiered at the “Venice Film Festival” in August 2014.

  • Throughout his career, he has been involved with charitable activities, and he was also appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in March 2010.

    Lionel Messi appointed as the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

    Lionel Messi appointed as the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

  • He has also founded a charitable organization “Leo Messi Foundation,” which supports education, health, and sports for children.

    Lionel Messi in an event organized by the Leo Messi Foundation

    Lionel Messi in an event organized by the Leo Messi Foundation

  • On 26 June 2016, when Messi missed a penalty in the final shootout in the “Copa America Final” and Argentina lost to Chile, he announced his retirement from international football. However, he reversed his decision later, and he led Argentina to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

  • His longtime girlfriend-turned-wife, Antonella Roccuzzo is his cousin’s best friend, Lucas Scaglia, who is also a footballer.
  • In 2018, Forbes listed him as the world’s highest-paid athlete (with $84 million salary/winnings) after Floyd Mayweather.
  • In 2019, he was named as the Best Player of the Year for the sixth time, and he was awarded the “Ballon d’Or Award”. This also made him the player with the most number of Ballon d’Or awards, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 5 awards. Megan Rapinoe was also named as the “Best Female Player of the Year” in the Ballon d’Or event. In 2023, he got the Ballon d’Or award for the eighth time. [3]Eurosport

    Lionel Messi with Megan Rapinoe

    Lionel Messi with Megan Rapinoe

  • On 11 July 2021, Messi lifted his first trophy with Argentina by winning the Copa America 1-0 against Brazil in Rio de Janeiro; Messi had previously tasted defeat in one World Cup final and three Copa finals with Argentina. After the match, an emotional Messi told reporters –

    I was close many times. I knew it would happen eventually. I am grateful to God for giving me this moment, in Brazil against Brazil. I think He was saving this moment for me.”

    Lionel Messi is lifted by his Argentina teammates at the end of the Copa America final on 11 July 2021

    Lionel Messi is lifted by his Argentina teammates at the end of the Copa America final on 11 July 2021

  • In August 2021, Messi had to leave his favourite club Barcelona for which he won 35 trophies, including 10 league titles and four UEFA Champions League crowns. Messi’s exit from the club sent shock waves among his fans, and the reason cited behind his exit was the Spanish LaLiga’s financial fair-play rules, which are among the strictest in the world. On 8 August 2021, during a press conference, a teary-eyed Messi bid goodbye to his favourite club while telling the Catalan media that he had no choice but to leave. He said,

    The club did not want to go into more debt.”

  • In November 2022, Byju’s, an Indian multinational educational technology company, roped Lionel Messi as the first global brand ambassador of its social impact arm ‘Education For All;’ BYJU’S became the official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. [4]NDTV

  • In June 2023, he gave a cameo performance on the popular Argentinian TV show Los Protectores on Star+. The show centers around three football agents who join forces to revive their professional lives and evade financial ruin. In the first episode of the second season, which aired on 25 June 2023, Messi made an appearance. In this episode, the agents travel to Paris to meet Messi and present him with a proposal for a project that aims to assist young players. [5]Goal

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